Sponsored by
FA VASE: Wisbech’s Wembley dream is finally over
Wisbech Town action. Photo supplied
Fourth round replay: DUNSTON UTD 3, WISBECH 1
THE Wembley dream is over for Wisbech Town.
The Fenmen saw their fine FA Vase run come to an end in a long-distance fourth-round replay in Gateshead on Saturday - and manager Steve Appleby couldn’t help thinking of what might have been.
Appleby said: “It wasn’t a great day but we can at least look back on a very good run in the competition.
“The most disappointing thing is that we haven’t gone out due to the brilliance of the opposition.
“We didn’t defend set-pieces well enough in the first game at our place and we weren’t clinical enough when we had the chances in the replay.
“We could easily have been two-up on Saturday and then it would have been a very different game, but it wasn’t to be.”
Appleby saw wideman Matt Lunn - the scorer of a stunning equaliser in the initial clash seven days earlier - miss what he described as a ‘sitter’ early on.
Striker Nick Davey, the club’s other scorer in the 2-2 deadlock at the Elgoods Fenland Stadium the previous Saturday, then failed to capitalise on a weak back-pass. His poor touch allowed the home goalkeeper to rescue the situation.
Wisbech paid the price for those missed chances when a slip from defender Anthony Reeve allowed the hosts to hit the front through Stephen Goddard.
Dunston, who had also seen a strong penalty appeal turned down, soon doubled their lead through Andrew Bulford and things went from bad to worse when Reeve was dismissed for hauling down Goddard as he charged towards goal ‘with eight minutes of the first half remaining’.
A third Dunston goal – again from Bulford – three minutes into the second period effectively ended the contest but Wisbech battled on strongly.
Striker Chris Bacon ensured their travelling fans at least had a goal to cheer when finding the net with a classy free-kick.
Wisbech’s exit leaves Northern Star as the sole local survivors at the last 16 stage, but Appleby is adamant a fine Vase run won’t be the high-point of the club’s season.
“We are still chasing a top two finish for the chance of promotion and we have a county cup semi-final to look forward to,” added Appleby.
“I made sure the lads realise there is plenty still to play for this season.”
Wisbech: Rayner, Spafford, Johnson (Thompson), Fairweather, Reeve, Reed, Reid, Millson, Lunn (Gale), Bacon, Davey (Murphy). Unused: Jimson.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 15 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.